Why can't you see the stars in the city, but you can in the countryside? The stars are difficult to see in the city due to light pollution, which is the excess artificial light that shines into the night sky and washes out the stars. The light pollution is caused by street lights, buildings, and illuminated advertisements, among other sources. In contrast, in the countryside, there is less artificial light, allowing for a clearer view of the stars. Can I do anything, short of going to the countryside, to see the starts in the city more clearly?
Yes, there are several things, however, they mostly rely on technology, if you are trying with your own eyes the best way is to go to the countryside. Even the methods with Technology work better with less Light Pollution. If you want to find the best location near you there are websites that provide maps of Light pollution such as www.lightpollutionmap.info/ 

Most Areas also have Astronomy clubs, and it may be worth a look to see if there is one in the area, as they might be able to guide you. 

If you wanted to go with the technology route, you can research more about Astral Photography. 
For Astral Photography There are 2 common methods to be able to see more of the night sky in Astral Photography, 
The first is Stacking, taking multiple images of the night sky and then stacking them on top of each other to amplify the light present. 
The Second is Long Exposure, keeping the camera sensor open to let in more light.
Urban parks are often perfect for this if the lighting can be reduced and shielded. Outside of these sites, there are many things that stargazers can do to see more of the night sky close to home, like picking somewhere away from direct street light or switching off outdoor security lights.